Lesson 3: Restoration Proclamation

Introduction to the Doctrine and Covenants

Hearing the Voice of Jesus Christ

In the Doctrine and Covenants, we can read the Lord’s own words, helping us hear His voice speaking to those in our day and even to us personally. This lesson can help students prepare to learn to know the Savior as they begin their study of the Doctrine and Covenants.

Possible Learning Activities

Getting to know you

Consider beginning class by inviting students to ask a classmate a question that would help them get to know that person better. For example, they could ask, “What is something you enjoy doing in your free time?”

After students have had time to talk with a classmate, you could discuss the following:

Think of the person you feel you know the best.

• What has helped you get to know this person so well?

Invite the students to quietly ponder how well they feel they know Jesus Christ and what they are currently doing to come to know Him better.

In the Doctrine and Covenants, Jesus Christ described some of the ways we can come to know Him better and promised us a blessing we can receive for doing so.

Read Doctrine and Covenants 19:23–24, looking for the Savior’s invitations and the promise He made.

• How do you think the Savior’s invitations in these verses could help us come to know Him better?

• What can we learn about the Savior from His words in these verses?

Consider pointing out the Savior’s promise in verse 23 that we can experience His peace as we learn of Him and listen to His words. It may be helpful to invite the students to think more deeply about this promise. You could ask them to evaluate how often they feel the peace that comes from Jesus Christ and how their lives might be impacted if they felt more peace.

Studying the Doctrine and Covenants

This year, you will have opportunities to study the Doctrine and Covenants at home, in church, and in seminary. As you study, you will have many opportunities to learn of Jesus Christ and listen to His words. This can help you come to know Him more fully and experience the peace He promises.

• What do you already know about the Doctrine and Covenants?

Some students may have passages from the Doctrine and Covenants that are especially meaningful to them. You could ask a few willing students to share these passages and explain why they are meaningful. You might also share a few of your favorite passages.

Then invite the students to open their scriptures to the introduction to the Doctrine and Covenants.

In the introduction to the Doctrine and Covenants, read paragraphs 1–3 and the final sentence of paragraph 8. As you read, look for phrases about how studying the Doctrine and Covenants can help you come to know Jesus Christ more fully.

• What did you learn about how the Doctrine and Covenants is different from other books of scripture?

• What makes the Doctrine and Covenants “of great value”?

The Savior’s voice in the Doctrine and Covenants

One truth we can learn from these paragraphs is that as we study the Doctrine and Covenants, we can hear the Savior’s voice speaking to us in our day and learn more of Him.

Read Doctrine and Covenants 18:33–36, looking for teachings from the Savior that relate to this truth.

It may be helpful to give students time to find a few other examples of Jesus Christ speaking in the Doctrine and Covenants. You could invite them to open their scriptures to any section of the Doctrine and Covenants and look for examples of the Lord speaking.

• How do you think reading the Savior’s words in the Doctrine and Covenants could bless your life?

If needed, point out that there is much we can learn about the Savior as we study His words. We can understand more about His character, His desires, and what is important to Him. It would also be helpful to point out Jesus Christ and Heavenly Father are alike in Their perfection and attributes and united in Their purpose. Therefore, as students come to know Jesus Christ, they are also learning more about Heavenly Father (see John 14:9).

Coming to know Heavenly Father and Jesus Christ can increase our love for Them and help us experience the peace only They can offer.

Throughout your study of the Doctrine and Covenants, focus on what you are learning about Heavenly Father and Jesus Christ. It may even be helpful to organize a portion of your study journal or create a note in your Gospel Library app for recording the insights you receive about Them. You could add to your list of insights throughout the year. Consider how what you learn about Heavenly Father and Jesus Christ influences your love for and trust in Them.

The following study activity can help students recognize examples of what they can learn about Heavenly Father and Jesus Christ from the Savior’s words in the Doctrine and Covenants. It may be helpful to divide the students into groups and assign each group one or more of the passages to study.

Study the Savior’s words in a few of the following passages from the Doctrine and Covenants. Pay attention to what you can learn about Heavenly Father and Jesus Christ from the verses you study.

• Doctrine and Covenants 1:37–38; 10:67–70; 11:2; 14:9; 19:1–2; 25:15–16; 29:1–2; 84:77

Consider listing on the board students’ responses to the first of the following questions. Or you could invite various students to come to the board and write their insights.

• What did these passages help you understand about Heavenly Father and Jesus Christ? Why do you think it is important to know these things about Them?

• How could what you learned about Heavenly Father and Jesus Christ in these verses help you experience peace?

Make a scripture study goal

Share the following, giving students time to create a goal related to their Doctrine and Covenants study this year.

For more training on how to encourage students to study the gospel daily, see the training entitled “Assist Students in Creating a Daily Scripture Study Goal,” found in the Teacher Development Skills: Invite Diligent Learning training.

One purpose of seminary is to help you draw closer to Heavenly Father and Jesus Christ through daily study of the scriptures. Seek inspiration through the Holy Ghost to set a goal related to your study of the Doctrine and Covenants. You could think about the following questions as you set a goal:

• When and where could I study my scriptures daily?

• How much time each day will I study?

• What can I do to invite the Holy Ghost more fully into my experience?

Record your goal in your study journal.

You may want to have students share their answers to some or all of the previous questions after they have finished writing.

Encourage students to work toward achieving their goal. Promise them that doing so will help them hear the Savior’s voice and receive guidance from Him. Take time throughout the year to remind the students of their goal, giving them opportunities to evaluate their progress.

Additional Resources

What is the relationship between the Book of Mormon and the Doctrine and Covenants?

President Ezra Taft Benson (1899–1994) taught:

The Doctrine and Covenants is the binding link between the Book of Mormon and the continuing work of the Restoration through the Prophet Joseph Smith and his successors. …

The Book of Mormon is the “keystone” of our religion, and the Doctrine and Covenants is the capstone, with continuing latter-day revelation. The Lord has placed His stamp of approval on both the keystone and the capstone. (Ezra Taft Benson, “The Book of Mormon and the Doctrine and Covenants,” Ensign, May 1987, 83)

What makes the Doctrine and Covenants an important book to study?

Elder Neal A. Maxwell (1926–2004) of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles stated:

If asked which book of scripture provides the most frequent chance to “listen” to the Lord talking, most individuals would at first think of the New Testament. The New Testament is a marvelous collection of the deeds and many of the doctrines of the Messiah. But in the Doctrine and Covenants we receive the voice as well as the word of the Lord. We can almost “hear” him talking. (Neal A. Maxwell, “The Doctrine and Covenants: The Voice of the Lord,” Ensign, Dec. 1978, 4)

Elder John A. Widtsoe (1872–1952) of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles taught:

Every doctrine taught by The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints is found, either outlined or shadowed forth, in the Book of Doctrine and Covenants. As far as I know, there is no doctrine taught by the Church which is not found in some way or form in this book. … No other one of our sacred books can lay the same claim to a full survey of all the doctrines of the Church. (John A. Widtsoe, The Message of the Doctrine and Covenants [1969], 117)

Where can I learn more about the Doctrine and Covenants?

The following resources can help students better understand what is in the Doctrine and Covenants:

• Annelise Gardiner, “The Doctrine and Covenants: An Overview,” For the Strength of Youth, Jan. 2021, 14–15

• Topics and Questions, “Doctrine and Covenants,” topics.ChurchofJesusChrist.org

Supplemental Learning Activities

Sacred revelations that came in times of need

Most of the revelations in the Doctrine and Covenants came in times of need or in answer to questions. To help students understand this, invite them to read paragraph 6 of the introduction to the Doctrine and Covenants, looking for the circumstances that most often led to these revelations being given. Students could share what they learn about the Lord based on what they discovered in this paragraph.

Students might also think about times in their lives when they have needed guidance from Heavenly Father. Encourage them to seek His guidance in their current and future times of need.

Valuable teachings in the Doctrine and Covenants

To help students get an overview of important doctrinal topics they will study in the Doctrine and Covenants, consider inviting them to read paragraph 8 of the introduction to the Doctrine and Covenants.

Students could choose one of the topics listed in this paragraph that they would like to learn more about. To find related verses in the Doctrine and Covenants, they could use study tools like the index to the triple combination, the Topical Guide, or the Guide to the Scriptures.

The ongoing Restoration of the Savior’s gospel

Although the Doctrine and Covenants contains significant teachings from the Lord as part of the Restoration of His gospel to the earth, the Restoration was not finished with the publication of the Doctrine and Covenants. The Lord continues to reveal truth to His prophets and apostles as part of the ongoing Restoration.

To help students understand this concept, consider sharing the following statement by President Russell M. Nelson:

The Restoration is a process, not an event, and will continue until the Lord comes again.

… The ongoing Restoration needs ongoing revelation. (Russell M. Nelson, “The Temple and Your Spiritual Foundation,” Liahona, Nov. 2021, 94)

Consider inviting the students to share some of the important truths or teachings the Lord has revealed to His prophets and apostles in recent times.